Marathon Florida Keys Reef Donkeys: I sometimes feel bad for people when I see them struggling with a big fish. I see them reeling with all their might, huffing and puffing ,swearing and such. They gain back all that line only to see it peel right off again, and they say I have never felt a fish pull so hard? What could it be? The captain knows already that the donkey is kicking and you better be ready for a fight! The greater Amberjack or Marathon Florida Keys Reef Donkeys as it is commonly known as, is the bruiser of The Florida Keys Deep Wreck and offshore fishery. These fish range from 5 to 80 or more pounds and pull like a mule! They are usually a by catch when grouper fishing on our near shore wrecks in about 100-250 ft. Large AJ's inhabit Marathon's offshore humps as well and can be caught on a variety of dead and live baits. A butterflied bonito or black fin tuna on the Marathon Hump can be just the ticket. The Greater Florida Keys Amberjack is a great game fish not to be overlooked and is a part of our great Florida Keys, Marathon Fishery. I caught this fish recently just offshore of Marathon.

Tarpon fishing in the Florida keys is one of the highlights of the whole Florida Keys fishing experience. The brute strength and acrobatics of these fish is legendary. The best time of the year for big Florida tarpon is April, May, June and July, with May being the best most years. Live mullet up to 16 inches and sometimes over a pound in weight get eaten with regularity. There is nothing like it anywhere in the world and is a must do for many,many anglers. Our dock is located minutes from one of the best Florida tarpon fishing locations found anywhere and we fish it consistently so we know whats happening on a daily basis.This makes us as productive as we can be, therefore making a guest's tarpon dreams that much easier to fulfill. Day and night throughout the late spring and early summer, tarpon will be on our door step waiting to test any anglers skills. People of every age bracket and skill level can enjoy this fishery. So come make some angling memories that will last a lifetime! You'll be glad you did !!!!!

Florida Keys Deep Wreck Fishing: Fishing the deep wrecks just off Marathon's Reef System in 70-200 ft. of water is another way to experience the great angling opportunities Marathon Florida Keys Fishing has to offer. These structures hold black groupers,amberjacks,mutton snappers and a range of other species. We mainly target blackgrouper and mutton snapper with live baits. We use conventional tackle with flourocarbon leaders. Our baits of choice are live blue runners,live pilchards and live pinfish. These baits are fished on or just off the bottom while drifting over these wrecks. Grouper on these Marathon Wrecks can be large, some reaching 300 lbs and requiring brute strength and heavy gear. The beasts know what they are doing and usually head straight for their favorite hole were they flare their gills and lock up tight. The mutton snappers on the other hand can be found on and away from the Marathon Wrecks lurking in the sand holes surrounding the wrecks. A pinfish drifted close by is often eaten to the delight of the skipper!!! Mutton snapper is great table fare either on the grill or in the pan! The deep wrecks of the Florida keys are yet another reason to start your angling adventures here in Marathon with our Sport Fishing Charters.

Winter Time Fishing In The Florida Keys: The Florida Keys winter time fishing wind and fishing patterns are in full effect here. The fishing is great. The Florida sailfish are on the move and will eat that pilchard that took you two hours to catch this morning. The deeper parts of our Florida Keys reef system are producing yellow tail snapper and grouper as long as the current cooperates.

Soon the king and cero mackerel will be plentiful and a live bait on the kite will not last long ! Lots of fun on light tackle can be had on our outer Florida Keys reef system this time of year as well as our inner patch reefs.The inshore patch reefs are holding red grouper,mutton snapper and some mangrove snapper and can be a good bet when the wind blows to hard further offshore. The cobia fishery in Florida Bay should be ramping up soon and the bay wrecks will be the place to be. The big king mackerel will start to show as well.These fish are huge some in the 50lb. range and will test your gear and skills for sure. A blue runner on the kite is deadly for these line screamers and I often employ this tactic. Spanish mackerel in the (3-7 lb.) range will be thick after our first cold fronts of the season.They are great on light spin gear and also make wonderful kite baits for blacktip and spinner sharks.We are just getting fired up here in the Florida Keys so come on down and Fish The keys with us, you'll be glad you did !!!!